Twin Cities nurses reach deal, Duluth nurses still preparing for strike

The Minnesota Nurses Association says that nurses in the Twin Cities Metro region have reached a tentative deal with hospital employers after months of bargaining and avoided an Unfair Labor Practices (ULP) strike.

“While the settlement includes a range of updates and changes from the 2022 contract, highlights include new language to implement Minnesota’s new break law, tools to address workplace violence, a raise of 3% in the first year, 4% in the second, and 3% in the third,” explained a representative from MNA. “Nurses faced an uphill battle this year due to significant financial constraints in hospital budgets, largely driven by impending federal Medicaid cuts long signaled as part of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” federal spending act. In one year alone, Minnesota could lose up to $500 million due to federal Medicaid cuts. Around 20% of Minnesotans rely on Medicaid to access care. ”

Although nurses in the Metro have reached an tentative agreement, nurses in Duluth are still scheduled to go on an ULP strike on July 8, followed by Advanced Practice Providers on July 10.

“We are tired. We’re tired of working short-staffed. We’re tired of calling management for help and being told that there’s nothing that they can do,” said MNA President Chris Rubesch when Duluth nurses orignally announced their intent to strike. “We’re tired of being told that we are skilled, valued nurses, but having our clinical judgment for assessing patient care needs ignored.”

Representatives from Essentia Health and Aspirus St. Luke’s still hope the strike can be averted.

“This was a wholly avoidable outcome,” said Rhonda Kazik, chief nurse executive at Essentia at the time of of the strike announcement. “For the benefit of our patients and Twin Ports colleagues, Essentia Health has taken a good faith and solutions-oriented approach to these negotiations. Union leadership has leveled inaccurate and misleading allegations and repeatedly declined opportunities to make progress toward shared goals. Our teams at Essentia will continue working to ensure that patients see minimal disruption to their care and encourage union leadership to negotiate in good faith.”

Aspirus St. Luke’s had previously released a statement that said in part:

Aspirus St. Luke’s is pushing for a fair and responsible agreement on a contract with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) that keeps health care affordable and accessible for our patients and community while recognizing the dedication and passion our total care team puts into the care they provide.

Both sides acknowledged that they would like to avoid a strike. Aspirus St. Luke’s stance is that a strike helps no one, achieves nothing, and will not change our position on staffing ratios. We need the flexibility to adapt staffing levels to best meet the needs of our patients. The money that is spent on temporary nurses during a strike is money we cannot spend in other priority areas and is money that leaves our Twin Ports community.

Nurses contracts expired on June 30.